NEW DELHI: Parliament remained paralysed for the 13th consecutive day on Wednesday as relentless protests by Opposition parties forced repeated adjournments in both Houses, even as the government pushed through key legislative business.Amid the deadlock, efforts to break the impasse gathered pace with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju holding meetings with Lok Sabha leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union home minister Amit Shah, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately met BJP MPs over breakfast.
Opposition marches to Parliament
Opposition MPs led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra marched from Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar, demanding accountability from Amit Shah over the alleged police action against CJP protesters on July 20.They also raised the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement issue and other matters. Priyanka Gandhi said those responsible for ordering the alleged use of pellet guns, tear gas and lathi charges against students must be held accountable, asserting that “This is a democracy, not a dictatorship; it is not someone’s royal court.”
No special session
Rijiju dismissed speculation that the Monsoon Session could be extended or that a special session might be convened later this month. He said there was no proposal before the government to either prolong the current session or hold a separate sitting in mid-August.His clarification came amid continued disruptions that have prevented the Lok Sabha from completing Question Hour since the session began on July 20.Despite the logjam, the Lok Sabha passed the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026, by voice vote without discussion after Opposition members refused to end their protest.Rijiju accused Opposition parties of deliberately stalling the House despite time being allotted for debate. He also criticised the Congress, CPI and Samajwadi Party over their protests relating to the alleged Ram Temple donation theft, alleging they had disrespected Lord Ram through demonstrations inside the Parliament complex.
Rahul-Rijiju meet
In a significant political development, Rijiju met Rahul Gandhi in his Parliament office for nearly 50 minutes in what sources described as a confidence-building exercise aimed at ending the parliamentary deadlock. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was present throughout the meeting, while Gaurav Gogoi and K C Venugopal joined later.According to sources, discussions covered the proposed Delimitation Bill, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Bill and other contentious issues that have fuelled the ongoing standoff. It was Rijiju’s second meeting with Rahul Gandhi in the past 10 days, signalling continued backchannel engagement between the government and the Opposition despite the public confrontation inside Parliament.
Amit Shah likley to speak on FCRA
Soon after meeting Rahul Gandhi, Rijiju met Amit Shah at Parliament House. Sources said the government is preparing to engage the Opposition on the proposed FCRA Bill and Shah is expected to address the issue in Parliament.Rijiju is also expected to reach out to leaders of other Opposition parties, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, in an effort to build consensus and restore normal functioning of the House. The proposed FCRA amendments have emerged as one of the key flashpoints of the session alongside the protests over NEET, police action against students and the Ram Temple donation controversy.
Derek blames govt disruption
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien accused the government of being responsible for the continued disruption in Parliament, alleging that Amit Shah’s prolonged absence from the House had worsened the situation. O’Brien maintained that Opposition MPs continued to perform their parliamentary duties despite the protests by raising public issues through Zero Hour notices and starred questions.He highlighted his own notices seeking national recognition of the 75th anniversary of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity and raising concerns over the proposed FCRA Bill. TMC sources said the party had submitted more than 100 questions during the session on issues ranging from MGNREGA dues and manual scavenging to air pollution, bank frauds, the UDAN scheme and the Nirbhaya Fund.
PM meets BJP MPs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a breakfast meeting with 37 BJP MPs at his official residence as part of his regular outreach during Parliament sessions. The gathering included MPs associated with the NDA as well as former AAP leaders who later joined the BJP. Senior BJP leaders Tarun Chugh, Vinod Tawde and party chief Nitin Nabin also attended.Sources told news agency PTI said the Prime Minister shared personal experiences and discussed governance, parliamentary strategy and constituency feedback with the MPs. The interaction forms part of Modi’s practice of meeting smaller groups of BJP parliamentarians during every session to strengthen coordination and receive direct feedback from lawmakers.
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Bill on Supreme Court judges passed
Despite the disruptions, the Rajya Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, completing Parliament’s approval of the legislation. The Bill raises the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.Replying to the debate, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the increase was a “demand of the time” given the growing workload, rising pendency and the need for more Constitution Benches. He said the expansion would improve disposal rates and help ensure quicker access to justice. Meghwal also highlighted the government’s ongoing investment in expanding Supreme Court infrastructure and reiterated its commitment to judicial reforms and the independence of the judiciary.
